Ask Grace: Scams and how to avoid them
Did you know criminals spend hours researching people and organisations to scam you?
They pretend to be organisations such as the NHS, banks, government departments, and HMRC through phone calls, emails, and texts. They even create fake websites and social media posts to trick you into giving out your personal and financial information. In 2021, in the UK, victims lost £1.3bn through online fraud.
Scams can affect anyone of us, but that doesn’t mean you have to fall victim to them. Just take a moment to stop and think and you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of a scam and protect your money.
Is it a scam?
Be suspicious if they ask for:
- personal or sensitive information
- bank or card details
- passwords or PINs
- money upfront
- a quick decision as the offer expires soon
Look out for:
- people offering Universal Credit or government grants who use your information to make false claims
- ghost brokers using false information to sell car insurance
- people asking an upfront fee for loans that you never receive
- people asking for an upfront payment for special or reduced-rate energy supplies that don’t exist
- people pretending to be from HMRC or Council Tax offering a tax rebate
To avoid being scammed:
- don’t reply, report the scam, and delete the message
- never pay upfront fees or share your card, password, or bank details
- apply for Universal Credit online or using their helpline
- check the provider is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority
- check the company is registered with OFGEM
If you fall victim to a scam, act now to protect yourself.